Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons & Sonnets

This morning, I've got Vivaldi's The Four Seasons playing on my iPod through the little portable speakers I keep on my desk...and it's just bliss; in the most literal sense, music to my ears. I found something out this morning that I did not know. When trying to find my links for Vivaldi and The Four Seasons (above - both linked to Wikipedia) I noticed this:
The four concertos were written to go along with four sonnets. Though it is not known who wrote these sonnets there is a theory that Vivaldi wrote them himself.
Since I love Italian (even though I really don't understand it) and since I love this music and am sure there are others out there who do to - it stands to reason that there are also others out there who did not know that little fact. So, I thought I would post the Italian/English translation of the sonnet for Spring/La Primavera. We're so close to the actual season that maybe it will warm a soul or two in preparation for warmer weather.  

Italian - La Primavera - Sonnet Allegro Giunt' è la Primavera e festosetti La Salutan gl' Augei con lieto canto, E i fonti allo Spirar de' Zeffiretti Con dolce mormorio Scorrono intanto: Vengon' coprendo l' aer di nero amanto E Lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla eletti Indi tacendo questi, gl' Augelletti; Tornan' di nuovo al lor canoro incanto: Largo E quindi sul fiorito ameno prato Al caro mormorio di fronde e piante Dorme 'l Caprar col fido can' à lato. Allegro Di pastoral Zampogna al suon festante Danzan Ninfe e Pastor nel tetto amato Di primavera all' apparir brillante.  

English Translation - Spring - Sonnet Allegro Springtime is upon us. The birds celebrate her return with festive song, and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes. Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven, Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more. Largo On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him. Allegro Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

Awesome, beautiful and inspiring - isn't it?

Happy Wednesday!

TTFN
 JMS

3 comments:

Sunday's Pearl said...

Oddly enough, Four Seasons was the first cassette I ever owned. Also, Four Seasons is the first hotel I ever stayed over night in. I think I was Vivaldi in a past life. Hm.
And my word verification is egrav. Kind of sounds Italian.

Cara J. said...

Ok, I've got something you are going to love. I can't believe I never thought to tell you about this before. You need to check out the Pandora Music Genome Project. In a nutshell it is a music analysis program/database that allow you to pick a favorite song or artist and searches its huge database to find pieces by other artists that are similar in form/genre that it thinks you will like. It allows you to approve/disapprove of a song and it LEARNS. This is so cool it works well with rock but also wonderfully with classical music (what jogged my memory). Check it out at: http://www.pandora.com/
even better no commercials, popups or anything!!!!

G. B. Miller said...

Okay.......I'm officially back in high school having nightmares about playing this on my clairenet.

Glad you found something that tickles your fancy.

For me, classical music will be forever entwined with Warner Bros. cartoons.